“Huh?”
Cheion’s eyes widened at the sight of the child. He immediately protested with an aggrieved look.
“Why are you just letting her through? She’s cutting in line!”
Just moments ago, when he tried to walk toward the entrance, people were glaring and shouting at him. But now, everyone went quiet.
Instead of the harsh curses they were throwing around earlier, they were smiling warmly like kind and easygoing neighbors.
“That child is different.”
“Different, different.”
“...What do you mean, different...?”
Click.
“Julia.”
“Ceres!”
At that moment, the shop door opened. When Ceres stepped out, the girl quickened her pace before slipping straight into her arms.
“She’s the owner’s little sister.”
“Ah...”
Only then did Cheion realize who she was. He looked at her again with newfound understanding. Her green eyes stood out clear and adorable.
“Ceres, are you busy today?”
“Why?”
Ceres led the child inside herself. She didn’t bother scolding her about coming here again. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway.
“Can you come with me to Dave’s house?”
“Dave’s house? Why there?”
Didn’t his mother run away with him? Could he have come back already?
“I need to return something he left behind.”
They were items from his academy locker.
Julia had apparently picked them up earlier that day. When the teacher mentioned that someone needed to deliver them, she had volunteered right away.
“You never know. Maybe he’s gotten in touch by now. If we could just find out where he is, we could at least send a letter.”
“...I’m not sure.”
Would someone who ran off after cheating really bother to send a word?
Even so, Ceres couldn’t bring herself to say that out loud when she saw the hope in Julia’s eyes.
“I’ll be done soon, so let’s go together then.”
“Okay!”
“Sit quietly over there.”
Julia nodded.
After guiding her to a seat, Ceres slipped back into the kitchen. In that short time, many customers continued to come and go inside the shop.
“One stew, please.”
“Yes, please wait a moment.”
Cheion finally entered the shop, took a seat, and placed his order.
“Huh?”
Julia, who had been swinging her legs and watching the customers as usual, suddenly stopped. Her gaze landed squarely on Cheion. Since he had been looking at her as well, their eyes met immediately.
She abruptly sprang to her feet and shouted,
“Magic Isn’t Hard!”
At Julia’s sudden outburst, the shop fell silent.
Unlike the other customers, who were startled and confused by her shout, Cheion only blinked in surprise for a moment before casually sweeping his long hair back.
He smiled brightly.
“Yes. I am the author of that book, the Archmage Cheion.”
“Wow!”
Julia clapped enthusiastically as he struck the exact same pose as the illustration in the book. Seeing her reaction, his smile deepened, and he continued in a smooth tone.
“I see. Is it your dream to become a mage, little lady? Is that why you read my book?”
“No. I just read it because all my friends were reading it.”
“Ah... well, that happens. So, did you enjoy it? Did it spark your interest in magic?”
“Not at all.”
“...Huh?”
“It was really boring. It was just full of stories about how amazing the Master of the Magic Tower is.”
“.....”
...They really are sisters.
“Please sign my book for me next time you come.”
“You just said it was boring. Why do you want an autograph?”
Cheion huffed in mild annoyance, but Julia widened her eyes as if his confusion made no sense at all.
“You don’t buy that book because it’s fun or educational. You buy it for the picture at the very front. Some kids even tear out the first page and carry it around.”
“...Thank you.”
At least you like my face.
“But I didn’t tear mine. Ceres said I should take good care of the book because she paid a ridiculous price for it. If I damage it, I won’t be able to sell it secondhand later.”
“.....”
With the way she kept landing only the most painful truths, anyone could tell they were sisters.
***
“Is this the place?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve been here before. Dave’s mom even gave me a snack. Strawberry cake.”
“I’ve never heard that.”
“It’s because I came to visit a male friend. I was asked not to tell you.”
“Colin...”
As promised, during a brief lull at the shop, Ceres headed to Dave’s house with Julia. It seemed she had come here a few times before with Colin.
Knock, knock.
After arriving, Ceres knocked on the door. But even after some time, there was no response.
Knock, knock.
“...It doesn’t seem like anyone’s home.”
“Then what do we do?”
“Well, should we leave the items with a neighbor?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. The teacher said to deliver it to Dave’s house.”
She really is stubborn.
In the end, Ceres knocked once more.
Knock, knock.
Should they come back tomorrow?
Creak.
“...Who is it?”
When the door finally opened, Dave’s father appeared. His eyes filled with surprise when he saw Ceres and Julia standing there.
“You’re...”
“Good afternoon.”
He seemed to recognize Julia immediately.
“Yes, Miss Julia. What brings you here?”
He greeted her warmly with a smile. His tone was especially polite, likely because he knew Julia was from a noble family, even if it was one in name only.
“The teacher asked me to deliver Dave’s belongings.”
“Ah...”
When he accepted the small bag, a hint of sadness crossed his face. Seeing that, Julia’s expression dimmed as well.
“Thank you.”
“Have you heard anything from Dave yet?”
“No. I’m waiting for news as well.”
The man bent down to meet Julia’s eyes.
“You were quite close with Dave, weren’t you, miss?”
“Yes.”
“Just in case, if you do hear from him, could you please let me know too?”
“Alright.”
“Thank you. I would’ve liked to offer you something to eat, but the house isn’t really in order right now... Please, take care on your way back.”
After finishing his conversation with Julia, the man waved and moved to close the door.
Thud.
But just then, Ceres, who had been silent the entire time, caught the door before it could shut.
“W-why?”
Stepping closer to the flustered man, Ceres gave him a brief once-over.
“You were cleaning.”
“Ah... yes...”
Only then did the man seem to notice his own appearance, his expression turning awkward.
His sleeves and pant legs were rolled up haphazardly, and there was still water clinging to his hands and feet. It was obvious he had been in the middle of cleaning.
“Yes... the house is a bit untidy.”
“I see.”
“Then please, take care. Thank you again for delivering the items.”
After offering his farewell once more to both Ceres and Julia, the man stepped back inside.
“Hmm.”
Even after he disappeared, Ceres didn’t turn away right away.
“Ceres?”
As Julia called out, Ceres finally stepped back from the closed door.
“There’s a smell.”
“A smell? What smell?”
“Medicine. The kind healers use.”
“Huh?”
“You wouldn’t recognize it.”
After giving Dave’s house one last look, Ceres turned and headed back toward the shop to prepare for the evening rush.
***
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
When Del stepped inside, he found Kainel buried beneath a mountain of documents piled high across his desk.
Ever since arriving in the capital, the amount of work he needed to handle had increased dramatically. All the tasks he had postponed now flooded in at once. Most of them involved resources unique to the North.
“I’ve brought your meal.”
Kainel removed his glasses and shot Del an irritated look. He had clearly said earlier that he didn’t need food today.
“You barely ate yesterday either. I prepared this myself, so at least have a little. At this rate, you’re going to collapse.”
“You’ve gotten rather talkative lately.”
“Haha, perhaps I’m getting old.”
“You’re talking about age in front of me right now?”
“My apologies.”
“I’ll eat later. Just leave it.”
“You will eat it, correct?”
“.....”
“Understood. Please make sure you do.”
When Kainel’s gaze sharpened, Del quickly made his exit. Watching him leave, Kainel clicked his tongue softly.
Has he really gotten old? He’s been nagging more than usual lately.
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